Omar Sharif[a] (Arabic: عمر الشريف Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [ˈʕomɑɾ eʃʃɪˈɾiːf]; born Michael Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub[1] [miˈʃel dɪˈmitɾi ʃælˈhuːb], 10 April 1932 – 10 July 2015) was an Egyptian film and television actor. He began his career in his native country in the 1950s, but is best known for his appearances in British, American, French, and Italian productions. His films include Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965), and Funny Girl (1968). He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Lawrence of Arabia. He won three Golden Globe Awards and a César Award.
Sharif—who spoke Egyptian Arabic, Arabic, English, French, and, in films, Spanish, Greek, and Italian—was often cast, in British and American films, as a foreigner of some sort. He bridled at travel restrictions imposed by the government of Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser, leading to self-exile in Europe. He was a lifelong horse racing enthusiast, and at one time ranked among the world's top contract bridge players.
Contents
1 Early life
2 Acting career
2.1 Egyptian movie star
2.2 Lawrence of Arabia
2.3 Doctor Zhivago
2.4 Funny Girl
2.5 Other films
2.6 1970s
2.7 1980s
2.8 1990s
2.9 Monsieur Ibrahim and later films
3 Contract bridge career
4 Personal life
4.1 Family and personal relationships
4.2 His position on the 2011 Egyptian revolution
4.3 Health problems and death
5 Awards
6 Filmography
7 Notes
8 References
8.1 Bibliography
9 External links